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2026 FGN Budget: Concerns As North East Development Commission Allocates ₦244bn To Personnel, Leaves Little For Development

Serious concerns have been raised over the 2026 Federal Government budgetary allocation to the North East Development Commission (NEDC), following revelations that almost the entire allocation is earmarked for personnel costs.

According to budget details, the NEDC is allocated a total of ₦246 billion in the 2026 fiscal year, out of which ₦244 billion is proposed for personnel expenses, leaving a marginal balance for capital projects, programmes, and direct interventions.

The development has sparked strong reactions from policy analysts and development experts, who warn that such a cost structure fundamentally undermines the Commission’s mandate.

One of the most vocal critics, Dr. Murtala Adogi Mohammed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of System Strategy & Policy Lab, described the budget as deeply troubling and misaligned with the Commission’s core objectives.

“The critical question is whether the NEDC was established to pay salaries or to deliver recovery, reconstruction and resilience to communities devastated by conflict, poverty and displacement,” he said.

Dr. Mohammed, a Policy Extrapreneur, Governance Strategist and Futurist, noted that with personnel costs consuming almost the entire allocation, it becomes unclear how the Commission intends to execute its statutory responsibilities across the North East.

He questioned how much of the budget would actually reach internally displaced persons, conflict-affected communities, and vulnerable populations the Commission was set up to serve.

“What capital projects, infrastructure, livelihoods programmes or social interventions will be delivered with the remaining balance? A development commission that spends nearly all its resources on personnel risks becoming an administrative institution rather than a vehicle for impact,” he added.

Beyond the fiscal imbalance, concerns were also raised about staffing levels and productivity. Observers are asking how many staff justify such an overwhelming personnel cost and what performance or productivity metrics are in place to measure their contribution to development outcomes.

Dr. Mohammed further queried the absence of a clear value-for-money analysis, stressing the need for accountability in public expenditure.

“Budgets should reflect results, not routines. Without transparency, performance benchmarks and measurable impact, this kind of spending structure weakens public trust and erodes the legitimacy of the Commission,” he said.

The NEDC was established to spearhead reconstruction, rehabilitation and sustainable development in the North East, a region still grappling with the aftermath of insurgency, humanitarian crises and underdevelopment. Analysts warn that a budget skewed heavily towards personnel costs risks leaving these urgent needs largely unaddressed.

As the National Assembly continues scrutiny of the 2026 budget, stakeholders are calling for a comprehensive review of the NEDC’s expenditure framework to ensure alignment with its mandate and to prioritise tangible development outcomes for the people of the North East.